4.29.2009

Otakon week will be insanely busy to say to least...not to mention insanely INCREDIBLE. VAMPS, featuring HYDE and K.A.Z. will be making a stop in Baltimore's SONAR July 16th as part of their VAMPS US Tour 2009!! Words can't describe my excitement - what an awesome way to kick off Otakon. (Thanks for the heads up, Sam)

VAMPS is the result of 2 collaborating geniuses -- L'arc~en~Ciel's HYDE and Oblivion Dusts' K.A.Z. Their first Nationwide tour of Japan, "VAMPS LIVE 2008", kicked off at Zepp Tokyo. Between August 1, 2008 and October 28, 2008, VAMPS played 46 shows at the prestigious Zepp live houses throughout Japan. The tour was totally organized by VAMPS and the venues were custom decorated by spray art such as the now-famous VAMPS castle. The band played 6 to 10 shows at each Zepp venue and every single show was sold out.

The sensation continues in the U.S. This concert is sure to be memorable!

See below for the rest of their tour schedule:

Saturday, July 11, 2009: New York NY, The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza

UPDATE (6/1/2009): While this isn't an official Otakon event, Otakon members can enter to win free passes to the show. In addition, they are throwing in some passes that will allow you to bypass the Otakon pre-reg line so you can get your VAMP on. Winners will be randomly selected on June 17th. HYDE and K.A.Z. will also participate in a special virtual Q&A session, in which they'll select and answer questions submitted by fans. Enter here by June 15th.

4.02.2009

Yoshitaka Amano's "Dawn: The Worlds of Final Fantasy HC" is now available for pre-order. At 116 full color pages, Amano and Square Enix, Inc. have permitted the artwork that inspired the designs of the Final Fantasy games to be published. Witness the development of the first 4 games through Amano's paintings, detailed line art, and preliminary sketches. In a special afterword, learn about the development of this "history-making collaboration." The hard cover book also includes 2 full-color 32" gate folds! Retailed at $29.95, pre-order "Dawn" now at TFAW and save 20%. "Dawn" is due out June 3rd.

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Previews, News, Reviews, and Convention Reports of all things Japan, from the perspective of a crazed self-proclaimed Otaku -- from Anime to Manga to J-music to Video Games to Figures to Fashion to Culture. A plethora of goodies for the novice to the veteran fan and everyone else in between.